When someone thinks golf car one the first things that probably comes to mind is playing golf. More specifically you probably see an image of your favorite course the pro-shop some of the beverage cars roaming around on a sunny afternoon. But as most of you likely already know a golf car can be used for many different purposes like hauling tools around a job site, moving clients around an event, cruising around the neighborhood with the kids etc. In all of those situations a “SMV” or slow moving vehicle is required to legally move around on public roads. SMV can also be interpreted as making a vehicle street legal. It is important to note that different cities, counties, jurisdictions, and even  HOA’s can have different requirements to make a slow moving vehicle so always double check your areas by-laws. But in this posting we will be going over the basic requirements to begin making your golf car street legal.

Lights-

Lights will be a necessity to make any vehicle street legal you will need:

• Headlights
• Taillights
• Brake lights
• Turn signals

All of these can be purchased online or here at Masek

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Golf Cart Windshield-

Because you will be on the road with general traffic you will need a windshield to help with visibility and protect you from debris and weather. The most popular windshields for golf carts are the clear shatter resistant folding windshields.

Golf Cart Mirrors-

  You’ll want to make sure you have clear view of your surroundings while driving on the street. The most popular and required mirrors for on-street driving are:

• Rear View Mirror

• Driver/Passenger-Side Mirrors

Golf Cart Safety-

• Seat Belts For ALL Drivers And Passengers: This is a given. You definitely need to make sure that everyone is buckled up!

• Slow Moving Vehicle Sign: Many local ordinances require you to to have a “Slow Moving Vehicle” sign while out on the road. While it’s not ALWAYS required, we always recommend it.

Remember to always check your local laws to make sure your are up to code and enjoy your new street legal vehicle!

For most folk the off season for golf means hanging up the gear and putting away the golf car. With having to battle the cold temperatures and occasional in-climate weather it can be easy to put it away and await the warmer seasons. But there are some great things you can do with your golf car in the meantime to ensure a great working and great looking cart in the spring.

1. If you are using a electric golf car be sure to check the water levels in your batteries, especially if the car is being stored outside. When water levels are too low you run the risk of permanently damaging the battery systems.
2. If you are using a gas cart be sure to turn on and run for a few seconds every month or so. This helps keep oil and gasoline from sitting too long and causing damage to the engine.
3. One of the best things to do when you are not using you cart is bring it in for an annual service. Annual services include changing oil and filters as well as checking battery performance and other issues that can arise from regular wear and tear.
4. If you been holding off on upgrading your car, the off season is a great time to have that done. Lift kits, bluetooth speakers, new rims are some of our favorites here at Masek 🙂
5. Trading them in. A golf car can last a lifetime if taken care of properly but this can put a dent in your wallet over the years. Its always a good idea to shop around and see what a newer car can offer you.

Masek is proud to receive this years Best of the Best business award! We here at Masek have worked hard to to build long lasting, quality relationships with our customers and give them the best Masek experience possible. So thank you to our amazing team for all the great work and don’t forget to check us out for any of your golf car needs!

For more information check out this link: Best of the Best Award 

Golf is an industry that has been around for hundreds of years. With deep roots in its traditions, it can be a sport that hesitates to adjust and is slow to adapt to changing times. In the world we currently live in, a time where things are changing rather rapidly, the need for a change in golf is not far behind. Like we spoke about last week, the need for single rider cars is on the rise to accommodate new safety guidelines. This means your everyday visit to the links could look very different. As of right now, courses are seeing a huge inflow of golfers but not enough cars to go around. With new guidelines, each car they have is only able to carry a single person and their accompanying gear no matter what the size of the golf car is. This is causing a need for change in the golf world. 

While golf cars are a staple point in golf and have been for many decades, the usage and needs of the golf car has adapted. Single rider usage has brought many questions to courses on the efficiency and cost effectiveness of running a full sized golf car fleet. While modern day gas or electric cars are much more efficient than their predecessors, they are built to handle multiple people and the corresponding gear. With the current need for only one person and one set of clubs, the modern golf car is over engineered and overpriced for the current demand. Many golf courses and clubs have become much more inclined to give another form of transportation a shot, the scooter. They are more cost effective, easier to maintain, and are perfect for single rider courses. Not to mention the added revenue to the courses. From a revenue standpoint, most courses have standard cart fees in their regular rates. With the scooters, it gives an opportunity to charge a premium, typically around $20 per scooter, on top of the regular rates.

Companies like Phat Scooter and Finn Scooter are companies that are feeling the change in the world and in golf. They have seen a huge amount of interest from courses now needing single rider options. Even just a few months ago, these companies were only receiving four to five inquiries a month. Now, they are receiving multiple a day. The future of the golf car still seems to be up in the air, but this trend seems to be pointing to an additional transportation option, the single rider scooter. So whether it’s in a golf car or on a scooter, golfing will persevere through these unusual times and continue swinging on the other side.

We are entering a new world, after the closings due to the pandemic, that has many challenges and changes. Wearing masks in public is our new norm, social distancing guidelines are in place everywhere and businesses are having to figure out how to open safely. While these issues will most likely remain prominent for years to come, for many people and businesses alike, it’s time to start getting used to our new normal.

The golf world is experiencing a range of changes as well. Golf courses and clubs are beginning to see the increasing need for single rider cars to maintain healthy social distancing practices. For the avid golfer or even newcomers, this could mean a large change in how you golf all together. Golfers could experience longer wait times or even filled tee times due to less capacity. One way courses and clubs are trying to combat these challenges is by providing the option of bringing in personal golf cars to accommodate single rider usage.

With new rules and guidelines, comes longer wait times and lines and golf courses are no exception. During this reopening period in our country and individual states, single rider usage has become a sticking point for most courses. With only a certain amount of single rider cars at one course, the amount of people golfing at one time will be limited. This can slow down the turnover of people golfing, it can reduce the amount of people a course can accommodate within a days time, and can make reserving tee times and cars a much longer process.

Many courses are beginning to allow private golf cars on their courses to help mitigate the lack of inventory and longer wait times. It is becoming easier and more efficient to bring a personal car to your course, not only for the comfort and  security of knowing where the car has been and how clean it is, but also for the peace of mind knowing you won’t have to worry about the hassle of renting a car from the course when there may not be any. Masek is here and ready to help with any inquiries about your own personal single rider car. Golf on!

Through these difficult times, we as a community have rallied together and as we approach the summer months, it seems we have reached the light at the end of the tunnel. Our state and counties have begun taking steps to reopen in hopes to reach some sort of normalcy and Masek plans to do the same.  We have taken steps to reopen in a safe manner, while still offering the same quality service we know our customers deserve. Effective as of last week, we are back to our regular M-F, 8am-5pm hours and are taking steps to follow guidelines given to us by the Governor, such as social distancing with our staff and customers, requiring face masks be worn in high traffic areas, and disinfecting surfaces regularly. We have also implemented a disinfecting procedure for all golf cars that come in and out our shop, whether that be for service, sales or rentals. We want our customers to feel safe and comfortable working with our company and receiving/using our golf cars. Please check out the video bellow for more information on the steps we are taking to insure a clean and sanitized golf car. Feel free to reach out to us through Facebook, Instagram, Phone or email if you have any further questions. We look forward to work with you all, as you enjoy Summer 2020 from the comfort and safety of a golf car!

In last weeks post, we talked about great tips and tricks for maintaining a golf car and prolonging its life. But when should you start considering a visit to the shop? As I mentioned last week, an annual inspection is always a great idea for your golf car. It can help catch problems before they become more serious and more expensive, but there are some common issues that golf cars have over time that do require some expertise to diagnose and repair.

Electric golf cars: The most seen issue with any electric golf car is poor battery upkeep. Poor upkeep can mean several different things ranging from lack of charging or not charging the battery at all to not checking water levels regularly or even letting corrosion eat away at the battery nodes. All of these things can lead to the discharging and deterioration of the batteries which eventually requires a new set for the car to function properly.  The Solenoid is another critical component that can commonly have issues. Usually when you turn the key switch on, you will hear a click sound that lets you know the car is running. If you don’t hear that sound, it can mean that you are having issues with the Solenoid due to corrosion, loose wires or a broken internal coil. Another common issue seen with golf cars has to do with the cars alignment. Alignment issues, just like in your regular car, can start as a minor nuisance, but if not looked at, can become damaging and very expensive to replace. Usually alignment issues occur when riding with low tire pressure or on uneven surfaces for a prolonged amount of time.

Gas golf cars: Just like in an electric car, damaged alignment is an issue we see often. Always bring your car in if you start to experience alignment problems. Another common issue seen in gas car is problems with the gas valve. Over time and with continued use, the gas valve can become problematic. Issues with the gas valve can be categorized into two major problems. The valve may not be letting enough fuel into the engine, which make starting the car difficult or not allow it to run at all, or the valve can be allowing too much fuel into the engine, which can cause backfiring issues as well as the engine becoming flooded, which will not allow the car to start. Wiring and fuse issues may also arise. While some fuses are easy to replace on your own, wiring issues need further inspection because different wiring connects to several locations including the alternator, engine, and ignition switch. Unless you are very familiar with the wiring of a golf car, these wires can easily become mixed up or damaged, which can lead to more serious issues within the golf car.

It’s great to use our tips and tricks to keep a golf car functioning properly, but sometimes further expertise is needed. Our service department is ready to support and fix any of these larger issues so that you can hit the greens and pavement again soon. Remember, happy car, happy life.

How many times would you say that you take your car to the shop within a year? For most people the answer would be 3-6 times a year depending on the amount of usage, whether it is to check oil levels, tire pressure, battery life or any other problems a car might come across. With your golf car, this can all be done at home! It is a great idea to preform minor maintenance to keep everything running smoothly and avoid any major complications. Depending on whether you have a gas or electric golf car, there are different steps you can take to insure your golf car stays in tip top shape.

Electric golf cars: In an electric golf car you will always want to make sure it has a charge. With most modern day charging appliances, you can leave a car plugged in without any issues for weeks at a time. When a car runs out of charge and the batteries completely die, the charger will not be able to pick up a voltage reading, which is what tells the charger to click on or off. If the batteries completely die, a jump charge will need to be administered for the charger to work properly again. Without a charge, you also run the risk of having your batteries freeze if they are not stored in a warm enough climate, especially during the winter. You will also want to check the water levels on your batteries. With high usage of the car, it is best to check the water levels every two weeks and with low usage, usually during the winter months, you should check the water levels month to month. The water within the batteries is what allows them to hold a charge and without water for a prolonged amount of time, the battery will become damaged and in most cases lead to needing a replacement. Finally, you should check the tire pressure every 6 -8 weeks to make sure there is no unnecessary drag on your car.

Gas golf cars:  Just like in your own vehicle, make sure to check oil levels. With heavy usage, you should check the levels once a month, with moderate to light usage, every 6 weeks will do. Also, check the air filter monthly to make sure it is free of debris and excess dirt. Air filters that become too dirty can hinder performance of a golf car by reducing speed or not allowing the car to start. Finally, just as with electric cars, check tire pressure every 6-8 weeks to make sure there is no unnecessary drag on your car.

For both golf cars, it is always a good idea to bring them in for an annual inspection. Our service department is ready to support you in keeping your golf car in pristine condition. The most seen issue with golf cars usually arise because of poor upkeep and maintenance. With minor maintenance done at home alongside an annual inspection, your golf car will be happy, healthy and ready to roll.

Golf carts as we know them have been around for several generations, but they weren’t always what we are familiar with today. Where did the origins of the golf car begin? Well the history of the golf car may surprise you.

The origin of the golf car began in 1932. A man named Lyman Beecher invented what is now called the Beecher Rickshaw. This cart was designed to be pulled by two men, many times being the caddies. It sat one person only and held one golf bag. Although he did attempt to create a gas powered cart, it was incredibly noisy and rather dangerous. By the end of the 1930’s, the Custer Park Car was patented by Levitt Luzern Custer. This became one of the first gas and battery powered cars. They were very popular in parks because of the balloon tires (a tire with an inner tube and tread) which allowed the car to traverse easily over rocks and twigs. Later on, other companies came about, like Autoette Electric Car Company and Taylor Dunn. At this point, the idea of selling these personal transport vehicle was becoming increasingly popular with entrepreneurs, but the golf clubs were having a very difficult time accepting these machines on there courses. The electric cars were very difficult to upkeep, as there were no automatic charges that cut off when they were finished charging, which resulted in many ruined batteries. The gas powered cars also were extremely noisy and smelly and had many mechanical issues resulting in frequent breakdowns. After World War II, technology had seemingly caught up with the golf car and the major mechanical issues were resolved. During the 1960’s, many companies such as Club Car, EZ-GO and Harley Davidson began producing their own version of the golf car. The advancement in battery life technology and the creation of small gas engines made the cars much easier to use with fewer issues during the car’s life, which increased popularity on golf courses and in golf clubs. In 1978, Yamaha joined the growing business and released its first golf car, the G1. This car was a 2 cycle gas engine and within few years they also added an electric model. Many modern golf cars today have powerful rechargeable batteries that can last 18 holes and then some, super quite gasoline engines, independent suspension, USB ports and the list goes on and on.

Today, companies are continuing to add more customization to allow for the consumer to create their perfect cart, from the addition of a Bluetooth speaker to raising a cart with a lift kit. The golf car has come a long way from its origin in 1932, and caddies around the world are very thankful for it.

At this point, I’m sure most of us have heard about the importance of social distancing to stay safe and reduce spread of Covid 19. Standing 6 feet apart has been the main staple point officials have been trying to hit home to all of us, so it get us thinking, what are some activities that are 6 feet apart? Well the obvious activities that come to mind are staying inside, watching movies, cleaning and some living room exercises, but that can become rather monotonous and down right claustrophobic.  Golf cars are a great solution to these problems! Not only are they a quick and efficient way to to get around the neighborhood, they also give you a personal bubble of protection while you are out and about. They are simple and easy to sanitize, allow for easy and safe transportation for people of all ages, and lets face it, are always a fun time.

Cleaning and sanitizing everything you touch can be a hassle, but with a golf car, the process is easy. All it takes is a disinfectant wipe to the seat, steering wheel and dash and you are good to go! It really is that simple to keep your golf car sanitized.  For more in depth cleaning tips you can check out our education page where we go over all of the steps to maintaining a spotless golf car https://coloradogolfcars.com/video-tutorials/.

Not only are golf cars easy clean, but they are notoriously easy to use. People of all ages can benefit from  and enjoy the ease of golf car driving. Because it is so easy, it makes for a great way to get out and enjoy our lovely Colorado weather. No need to worry about the 6 foot social distancing rule when you can cruise through your neighborhood on a personal social distancing machine. Fresh air is something we are all looking for more of these days and golf cars offer a fun and relaxing way to get some.  Many golf courses in Aurora and Longmont are even allowing the use of personal golf cars. This allows you to social distance in the comfort of your own freshly sanitized golf cart.

Social distancing is the new normal so you should embrace it with the addition of a fun, easy, and clean golf car. Come back next week for another Masek blog post.